Effect Of Deep Fascial Stimulation On Shoulder Proprioception Of Volleyball Players

Shoulder proprioception in volleyball players is important for maintaining precise motor control required for optimal performance. Deep fascial stimulation methods such as foam roller exercises are used to increase fascial elasticity and stimulate proprioceptors. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of foam rolling on maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and force reproduction (FR). METHODS: A total of 47 female club volleyball players (16.3 ± 1.9 years) residing in Manisa, Turkiye participated in the study. Each participant completed two trials. First, participants performed 5-min of shoulder warm-up exercises, followed by two MVIC trials and two FR trials with a target force of 50% MVIC (165°). For trial two, participants performed the 5-min shoulder warm-up plus 5-min foam roller exercises (total 10 min warm-up), followed by two MVIC trials and two FR trials. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to analyze the maximum MVIC values and minimum error of FR. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in MVIC between trial one and trial two [+6.63 ± 10.61, p < 0.001]. FR error improved between trials but was not statistically significant [z = -0.83, p = 0.42]. CONCLUSIONS: Use of foam roller during warm-up had a positive effect on maximal shoulder joint strength. This improvement may be due to the excitation of proprioceptors within the fascia causing more activation or an increase in neuromuscular efficiency. The FR error improvement suggests potential benefits for proprioception that could enhance performance in volleyball-specific movements. Future studies should investigate this further to provide clearer insights into the role of deep fascial stimulation in neuromuscular control and proprioception. Supported by: This study has been supported by the Office of Scientific Research Projects Commissions of Manisa Celal Bayar University with project number 2021-129.